All scratched up in the pocket

Hi bush-haus,

I started a similar thread some time ago, and got some good responses: How Much Do You "Baby" Your TRADITIONAL Knives?
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1247139

It really comes down to personal preference. Some folks have no problem dropping a new Case or GEC into a pocket with keys, coins, screws, whatever. I have never been able to be so cavalier. Even my Buck 301 goes in its own pocket, or is only joined by soft objects, such as a handkerchief. I just can't bear the thought of it getting all scratched up. If that takes a few points off my man card, so be it. Maybe, decades from now, some grandkid will appreciate that it was well taken care of.

I do have one of the KSF pocket slips, which works very well. I bought it mainly for a knife that I recently restored, and want to carry occasionally, but I want to keep it in really great condition. This is where I draw the line for a working knife, though. If I'm out in the garden and need my trusty Case STJ (which is every other minute sometimes), it's just too many steps to go through to get the knife out. It's no surprise that so many full-time farmers and ranchers carry Case trappers and stockmen in yellow delrin that can take more abuse.

There is a cool type of pocket slip that is very much a working man's tool. Look up "buckaroo strap" or "buckaroo sheath." Basically a leather slip with a strap to attach it to your belt loop. Keeps you from losing your knife, helps you get to it while wearing chaps, and a lot of hands just let it dangle from their belt while cutting calves. There again, keeps you from having to go in and out of your pocket every other minute, esp. with gloves on.
 
Dedicated pocket for the knife, no coins, torches, keys or phones in there thank you! No I don't like getting them scratched up by that mess of things but the main thing is, i dislike having to fish around in pockets cluttered with objects when what I need is my knife.

Knife purses? Only for transportation or moving house....
 
Will Power said:
Dedicated pocket for the knife, no coins, torches, keys or phones in there thank you! No I don't like getting them scratched up by that mess of things but the main thing is, i dislike having to fish around in pockets cluttered with objects when what I need is my knife.

Knife purses? Only for transportation or moving house....
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Amen to that, Will. :thumbup:
 
I don't keep anything in my rfp but a knife. It still gets the bolsters scratched up. The main advantage of the pocket slip imo is keeping the knife upright instead of a sideways log on your pocket.
 
I generally don't put a knife in my pocket that I don't intend to use. Knives that get used get dinged & scuffed, so I don't generally worry much about the pocket wear. Having said that, the jeans I wear every day have a 'cell phone pocket' that's ideal for carrying my knives, so the pocket is dedicated for that purpose and nothing else. I usually carry my Case 6375 CV stockman and my CV Sod Buster side-by-side (vertically) in that pocket.


David
 
I wear overalls a good bit (Roundhouse) and they have two little pockets just right for a pocket knife. Generally, they go there. Otherwise, they get their own pocket or get wrapped in a bandana or handkerchief.... which I always carry as well.
 
It depends on the knife. SAK's, Sodbusters, UH's, OT's, and old Case ride without protection. But my GEC, CSC, and Queen get a slip, handkerchief, or an empty pocket. For a while I was carrying a yellow handled peanut with change and keys, and after a while the bolsters were all dull. However a little Flitz brought them back to being all sparkly again. Same thing for many of my old work horses. Still, I'll keep my nicer ones protected.
 
Thanks for the great responses !! I have a new Soda Scout that I want to carry but needed to know the the consensus was regarding scratches on the handles and bolsters. Thinking about getting a leather slip to carry for the nicer knives but with my Rough Riders, just carrying loose and the pocket with keys as always.
 
I carry multiple traditionals in my pockets. I use slip sheaths to keep them separated from each other some what.




 
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bush-haus said:
Thanks for the great responses !! I have a new Soda Scout that I want to carry but needed to know the the consensus was regarding scratches on the handles and bolsters. Thinking about getting a leather slip to carry for the nicer knives but with my Rough Riders, just carrying loose and the pocket with keys as always.
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The consensus will vary from person to person but carry it with your keys and change the results will be the same.
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I use to just drop a knife in my pocket with change, keys and whatever else. When I started getting nicer knives they got a dedicated pocket.
 
I carry my slip joints in a leather pocket slip mainly, but not to protect them from scratches. My problem with loose slippies in my pocket is SAND! I hate the gritty opening and closing and sometimes even not fully opening or closing because some sand gets into the crevices. For some reason sand accumulates in the bottom of my pockets and the slip pouch keeps it out of my knife.
Bruce
 
bflying said:
I think a slip helps spread out the weight in pocket, and makes it ride better in pocket by helping stay upright.
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Me too. It also protects the knife from getting all scratched and banged up when mixed with keys and other pocket stuff. My 111mm sak goes into my right front pocket and it is very scratched up. Don't really care. But I do care about most of my GECs and other more pricey tradtionals. I use pocket slips/sleeves whenever possible and really like the ones sold by KSF (price, design, and leather thickness). It also depends on the size of the traditional in terms of where I would carry it. I sometimes carry my #42 or the Northwoods Madison inside sleeve in a back pocket. It stays put.
 
For me it depends on which knife I have. Some of the frequent users don't bother me of the bolsters or backsprings have little marks. If I have something really nice for the day, I make a mental note to not have anything else in the pocket with the knife. I'm not a fan of carrying a knife in a sheath unless it's a fixed blade.
 
I like my slips. Can you tell? This is just part of them. Kind of like a woman picking the right shoes to go with that dress :-)

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arizonaranchman said:
My RFP is "dedicated" as my knife pocket. Nothing else rides with it. For me this works just fine. Whether it does for you or others may vary.

Depending on the size of the knife and type of pants you're wearing, the "watch pocket" can be an option. .
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YEP!! Same here!! John:thumbup:
 
For most knives I don't mind if they are in the pocket with other stuff and they get scratched up. If I pick a knife to be a user then the scratches don't bother me. Here are a couple of users that ride in the pocket (and are my most recent pics)


 
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